Nothing compares to the flavor of a perfectly drawn espresso shot. But what occurs if your espresso turns blonde too soon? Observing the rich, black crema become pale and runny in front of your eyes can be upsetting. You should be aware of early blonding and how to correct it.
Let’s define early blonding first. After a few seconds after pulling an espresso shot, the rich, caramel-colored crema should begin to form. This crema indicates a successful extraction, and it should continue to grow until the shot is finished. Early blonding is the term used when the crema begins to get pale and watery before the shoot has ended.
An excessively coarse grind is one potential contributor to early blonding. The water will pass through the coffee grounds too rapidly if they are too big, under-extraction of the shot will result. This may lead to early crema breakdown and pale, watery espresso as a result. To correct this, try changing the grind setting on your grinder, and then see whether the shots get better.
Tamping too firmly is another potential factor in early blonding. To provide a flat surface for the water to pass through, the coffee grounds in the portafilter are compressed during tamping. Too much tamping can leave channels in the coffee that let the water evaporate too quickly. Under-extraction and early blonding may occur from this. Make sure you’re using consistent pressure during tamping and avoid going overboard to correct this.
Let’s now address the pertinent queries. Is espresso the same as a short black? Yes, a single shot of espresso is known as a short black. It often has a strong, intense flavor and is served in a small cup.
My puck is wet, why? After pulling a shot of espresso, if your puck is moist, that may indicate over-extraction. The outcome is a mushy puck because too much water was squeezed through the coffee grounds. Try changing your grind to a coarser setting and checking that you aren’t tamping too firmly to fix this.
And last, is a double espresso shot really two shots? Yes, two shots of espresso are brewed and placed in one cup to make a double shot. It often comes with a stronger flavor and is offered in a larger cup than a single shot.
In conclusion, early blonding can be annoying but is typically reversible. To make sure you’re not creating under-extraction, check your grind size and tamping pressure. Also keep in mind that a short black is equivalent to one espresso shot, a wet puck may indicate over-extraction, and a double shot is actually two shots.